Fiberglass lawn edging with integral electrical conductor

Abstract

A pultruded fiberglass lawn edging includes imbedded conductors which can be used to conduct low voltage electricity to allow the lawn edging to double as a lighting strip. If the conductors are wires positioned adjacent the top and bottom edges of the edging, they also act as structural reinforcements which strengthen the edges to prevent damage which would otherwise be caused when the edging is driven onto the ground. The wires can also be used to flexibly interconnect adjacent sections of edging.

1 . A lawn edging system for installation in ground contact comprising a first section of fiberglass lawn edging having a top edge, a bottom edge, a pair of opposed ends, a length, and a thickness; said first section of fiberglass lawn edging including an electrical conductor formed therein and running continuously along said length, said conductor having a diameter in the range of ¼ to ½ of said thickness of said first section of fiberglass lawn edging.  
   
   
       2 . The lawn edging system as in  claim 1  wherein said first section of fiberglass lawn edging includes a rovings layer comprising a plurality of unidirectional glass strands and said conductor is located in said rovings layer and oriented parallel to said glass strands.  
   
   
       3 . The lawn edging system as in  claim 1  wherein said conductor is located adjacent said top edge of said first section of fiberglass lawn edging.  
   
   
       4 . The lawn edging system as in  claim 1  wherein said conductor is a copper wire.  
   
   
       5 . The lawn edging system as in  claim 1  wherein said conductor is a first conductor and said first section of fiberglass lawn edging further including a second conductor.  
   
   
       6 . The lawn edging system as in  claim 5  wherein said second conductor is located adjacent said bottom edge of said first section of fiberglass lawn edging.  
   
   
       7 . The lawn edging system as in  claim 6  wherein said first and second conductors are copper wire.  
   
   
       8 . The lawn edging system as in  claim 1  and further including a low voltage light powered by electricity conducted through said wire.  
   
   
       9 . A lawn edging system for installation in ground contact comprising a first section of fiberglass lawn edging having a top edge, a bottom edge, a pair of opposed ends, a length, and a thickness, said first section of fiberglass lawn edging including a wire formed therein adjacent said top edge and running continuously along said length, said wire having a diameter in the range of ¼ to ½ said thickness of said first section of fiberglass lawn edging.  
   
   
       10 . The lawn edging system as in  claim 9  wherein said first section of fiberglass lawn edging includes a rovings layer comprising a plurality of unidirectional glass strands and said wire is located in said rovings layer and oriented parallel to said glass strands.  
   
   
       11 . The lawn edging system as in  claim 9  wherein said wire is a first wire and said first section of fiberglass lawn edging further including a second wire located adjacent said bottom edge of said first section of fiberglass lawn edging.  
   
   
       12 . The lawn edging system as in  claim 9  and further comprising a second section of fiberglass edging, said second section including a second wire adjacent a top edge of said second section of edging, wherein said first and second wires are interconnectable to flexibly secure said first section to said second section.  
   
   
       13 . The lawn edging system as in  claim 12  wherein said first section of edging includes a notch formed at one of said ends and wherein said second section of lawn edging includes a tab formed at an end thereof and wherein said notch and tab cooperate to form a joint between said first and second sections.  
   
   
       14 . The lawn edging system as in  claim 9  wherein said wire is electrically conductive.  
   
   
       15 . The lawn edging system as in  claim 14  wherein said first section of lawn edging includes at least one veil layer that forms an exterior surface of said edging and electrically insulates said wire.  
   
   
       16 . The lawn edging system as in  claim 15  wherein said first section of fiberglass edging can be bent in a sharp angle by scoring said veil layer and breaking said first section of fiberglass edging without damaging said first wire.  
   
   
       17 . The lawn edging system as in  claim 14  and further including a low voltage light powered by electricity conducted through said wire.  
   
   
       18 . A lawn edging system for installation in ground contact comprising a first section of fiberglass lawn edging having a top edge, a bottom edge, a first end, a second end, a length, and a thickness, said first section of fiberglass lawn edging including a first conductor enclosed in said first section adjacent said first edge and a second conductor enclosed in said first section.  
   
   
       19 . The lawn edging system as in  claim 18  wherein said first and second conductors are copper wires.  
   
   
       20 . The lawn edging system as in  claim 19  and further comprising a second section of fiberglass edging, said second section including a third wire enclosed therein adjacent a top edge of said second section and a fourth wire enclosed therein adjacent a bottom edge of said second section, one of said ends of said first section and an end of said second section forming a joint there between, wherein said first and third wires can be interconnected to flexibly secure the joint.  
   
   
       21 . The lawn edging system as in  claim 20  wherein said second and fourth wires can be interconnected to further flexibly secure the joint.  
   
   
       22 . The lawn edging system as in  claim 20  and further including a low voltage light powered by electricity conducted through said first and second wires.  
   
   
       23 . The lawn edging system as in  claim 20  and further including includes a clip to cover said joint.  
   
   
       24 . The lawn edging system as in  claim 23  wherein said clip includes first and second terminals in electrical contact with said first and second wires, respectively.  
   
   
       25 . The lawn edging system as in  claim 24  and further including a low voltage light connected to said first and second terminals and powered by electricity conducted through said first and second wires.  
   
   
       26 . The lawn edging system of  claim 18  including a hole in said edging in a space between said first and second conductors and a clip fitted in said space, said clip including a first electrical contact contacting said first conductor.  
   
   
       27 . The lawn edging system of  claim 26  wherein said clip includes a second electrical contact, said second electrical contact in contact with said second conductor.  
   
   
       28 . The lawn edging system of  claim 26  wherein said first and second electrical contacts are electrically connected to a light.